A while back, I wrote a post about a little girl named Lizell Jane. You can read the post here. The Oikos Sisters along with Mary Jane Trinkus and me were on our way to a short two-day retreat in one of the northern towns here in Eastern Samar. We were in 2 cars because there were so many of us and were all excited for the time away. The car I wasn't in was in an accident on the way to the retreat. Our driver Joey was passing a tricycle, which is like a taxi cab, when a little girl ran out in front of his car suddenly and he couldn't avoid hitting her. She had some cuts on her face and bruises along her side, but she was ok. After taking her to the hospital and making sure she was ok, the Oikos Sisters assured the little girl's great grandmother that they would not abandon her and her family.
The story behind the girl, Lizell Jane, is that she was 6 years old at the time and she was abandoned by her mother. Her father went to Manila to find work. He did find work and would send money home to the great grandmother whenever he could, but it wasn't often. He left the great grandmother with his 3 children, Lizell and her two younger sisters, one of which has cerebral palsy. They lived literally in a shack with no electricity or furniture and shared a bathroom with 8 other families. The grandmother, the very day of the accident, woke up begging God for help. She couldn't do this by herself anymore and was in desperate need of help. Well, God did send help...probably not the way she was hoping it would come. Having your great-grandchild in an accident doesn't seem very helpful! But God's ways are mysterious and the encounter brought the Oikos Sisters into their lives. From that day on, the Oikos Sisters helped the family...even to this very day.
Well, yesterday Lola, our term for grandmother, came to Oikos. She often comes when she is in need of something and it is always nice to see her. She always gives me a kiss when she sees me!! But yesterday was different. This is what Lola told me...
Lizell Jane and her sisters were sent to Manila to be with their father. The Oikos Sisters continued to help them from afar as well as they were able to. The girls were going to school and living with their father. But a few months ago, the father was on a construction job and fell off of high scaffolding. He died instantly. The girls were sent to live with some sisters who live in Manila and have a home for children. Well, last Wednesday, Lizell Jane was leaving school. As she was crossing the street, she was hit by a truck and died instantly.
It was a hit and run, no one knows anything about the person who hit her. Lola came to Oikos to tell us and to ask for fare money to Manila so she could attend the funeral. Oh my, she was so sad. As no sisters were in the office yesterday, I tried my best to offer comfort and love to Lola in my broken waray waray... there's not much you can say anyways in that situation, just hold her hand and offer a shoulder to cry on.
...but I wanted to cry too... sometimes God's ways are too mysterious. Why was she spared a few years ago only to be killed now? How much pain can Lola take on, abandonment, death, extreme poverty...all of the things people say at a time like this are running through my head... at least her suffering is over, she is gloriously happy now in heaven, Lola has a special angel in heaven now... it's like putting a band aid on a gaping wound, it doesn't really help.
I have faith, I have hope in the resurrection, I trust in God's promise of eternal life, but all that doesn't make this any less sad. It didn't make sitting with Lola yesterday any easier.
Eternal rest grant unto her, Oh Lord, and my Your perpetual Light shine upon her. May she rest in peace.
Please pray for Lola, who is in Manila today to grieve with her family...thank you!!
